'Blue Star' anniversary observed at Amritsar's Golden Temple

Amritsar, June 6 : The 24th anniversary of "Operation Blue Star" marking the Indian Army's storming of the Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his group of armed extremists was observed here today.

The extremists had set up their base in the temple complex.

The Akal Takht, the spiritual seat of the Sikhs, was badly damaged during the operations.

"The Akal Takht is a revered place for Sikhs. Sentiments of thousands of Sikhs are connected with it. The Congress government of that time brought guns and tanks into this holy site. So we are observing the day as a "Black Day," said Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, the head Granthi of the Akal Takht.

Bhindrawale, who had entrenched himself in the complex, was eventually killed along with several other Sikh militants.

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was gunned down on October 31, 1984 by two of her Sikh bodyguards, in retaliation for that operation. Her assassination led to riots across the country in which Sikhs were violently targeted with tragic consequences.